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The processes of growing cannabis in a vertical farm

In a previous article, we caught a glimpse of the 'largest indoor vertical cannabis farm in Australia,' according to founder and CEO Craig Cochran. Today, we are exploring the rest of the facility, from the cloning and mother room to the packaging area.

The second episode of this video series begins with a look at the environmental control system, which Craig says allows the company to "grow the best cannabis in Australia." When it comes to environmental control, one must consider not only temperature, managed by the HVAC system, but also CO2 levels, humidity, and a range of other technologies that control every variable in the cultivation facility. "This control module provides a snapshot of what's happening in the cultivation room," Craig says in the video. He mentions that there's one of these modules for each room, allowing staff to manually control various conditions. "Cultivation staff can walk by and, at a quick glance, check the room's conditions."

The company operates as a true vertical farm, growing cannabis on racks in a two-tier system. As an indoor facility, the rooms are enclosed, allowing growers to control every input—temperature, humidity, CO2, light intensity, and more. "Everything the plant receives is customized based on a recipe depending on its stage of growth," Craig explains.

Genetic selection is crucial to every medical cannabis company, and MedCan is no exception. "Genetic selection is one of the most important processes at the company," Craig notes in the video. The cultivation process starts with the mother plant, which serves as the company's genetic library. These mother plants "are different genetic representations of certain strains. Some plants have longer, thinner leaves, while others have shorter, wider leaves." This reflects the difference between indica-dominant and sativa-dominant plants.

In terms of genetic selection, the company focuses on three metrics: THC content, biomass per square meter, and flowering time. "Our plants take 46 days to flower," Craig says, allowing the company to harvest "6-7 crops from one room per year."

Clones taken from the mother plants are identical genetic replicas. The stems are cut at a 45-degree angle, dipped into a cloning solution, and placed in rockwool cubes. Craig points out that these cubes are used because they are an inert medium, reducing the risk of introducing microbes or other contaminants into the facility.

Clones stay in the cubes for 7-10 days, and once they establish roots, they are transplanted into 4x4 cubes. It takes 3-4 weeks for the plants to fully establish in the vegetative stage. They remain in that stage for 1.5 to 2 weeks before being transferred to the flowering room.

One of the main observations Craig makes, which is evident in the video, is that the plants are uniform, with a consistent canopy height, evenly spread across the beds.

The company uses LED lights "because they provide high light intensity with a very low heat load," Craig explains. Additionally, they have a vertical air circulation system that distributes air from above and below the canopy. "This helps reduce hot spots, temperature inconsistencies, and humidity throughout the room."

Plants are watered through drip irrigation. "Each plant has one, if not two, drippers. In the flowering stage, a plant typically receives five waterings of about 1 minute and 30 seconds each, which ensures regular feeding during its growth." The nutrient mix is adjusted to suit the flowering stage. Trellises are placed over the plants to support their growth and prevent them from falling over or flopping around, helping maintain an even canopy.

As Craig walks through the canopy, he points out the beneficial insects and predatory mites that help control pests. "This allows us to avoid using pesticides," which results in a better quality and safer product.

After the flowers are harvested, they are moved to the drying room, which Craig describes as "one of the most advanced rooms in the world." The room features perforated walls, providing horizontal linear airflow that ensures consistent drying for each bud. After drying, the flowers undergo the trimming process, the final step in quality control. "All cannabis flowers receive a final hand trim and are checked for size and quality, ensuring no excessive sugar leaves remain."

The final step of post-harvest production is packaging. The flowers are placed into 10-gram tubs, which are then sealed and labeled. Inside each tub, Boveda bags are included to maintain the product's freshness for a prolonged period after sealing, Craig concludes the tour.

Click here to view all the episodes of this video series

For more information:
MedCan
1800MEDCAN (633226)
[email protected]
medcanaustralia.com.au